Self-charging and/or self-cycling electrochemical cells

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell including a solid glass electrolyte including an alkali metal working ion that is conducted by the electrolyte, and a dipole, an anode having an effective anode chemical potential μ A , and a cathode having an effective cathode chemical potential μ C . One or both of the cathode and anode substantially lack the working ion prior to an initial charge or discharge of the electrochemical cell. At open-circuit prior to an initial charge or discharge, an electric double-layer capacitor is formed at one or both of an interface between the solid glass electrolyte and the anode and an interface between the solid glass electrolyte and the cathode due to a difference between μ A and μ C .

1 . A method of operating an electrochemical cell, the method comprising discharging an electrochemical cell prior to the electrochemical cell having received energy from an external source, the electrochemical cell comprising:
 a solid glass electrolyte comprising:
 an alkali metal working ion that is conducted by the electrolyte; and 
 a dipole; 
   an anode; and   a cathode,   wherein one or both of the cathode and anode substantially lack the working ion prior to discharging the electrochemical cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both the cathode and the anode substantially lack the working ion prior to the initial charge or discharge of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working ion is lithium ion (Li + ), sodium ion (Na + ), or potassium ion (K + ), or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dipole has the general formula A y X z  or the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , wherein A is Li, Na, K, Mg, and/or Al, X is S and/or O, 0<z≤3, y is sufficient to ensure charge neutrality of dipoles of the general formula A y X z , or a charge of −q of dipoles of the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , and 1≤q≤3. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the solid glass electrolyte comprises at least 50 wt % of dipole. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 charging the electrochemical cell via a charge current; and   discharging the electrochemical cell after charging via a discharge current.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the electrochemical cell exhibits a self-cycling component of the charge current or discharge current. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising operating the electrochemical cell for at least a thousand charge/discharge cycles. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
 charging an electrochemical cell via a charge current;   discharging the electrochemical cell via a discharge current, the electrochemical cell comprising:   a solid glass electrolyte comprising:
 an alkali metal working ion that is conducted by the electrolyte; and 
 a dipole; 
   an anode; and   a cathode,   wherein one or both of the cathode and anode substantially lack the working ion prior to initially charging or discharging the electrochemical cell, and   wherein the electrochemical cell exhibits a self-cycling component of the charge current or discharge current.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein both the cathode and the anode substantially lack the working ion prior to the initial charge or discharge of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the working ion is lithium ion (Li + ), sodium ion (Na + ), or potassium ion (K + ), or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dipole has the general formula A y X z  or the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , wherein A is Li, Na, K, Mg, and/or Al, X is S and/or O, 0<z≤3, y is sufficient to ensure charge neutrality of dipoles of the general formula A y X z , or a charge of −q of dipoles of the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , and 1≤q≤3. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solid glass electrolyte comprises at least 50 wt % of dipole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising operating the electrochemical cell for at least a thousand charge/discharge cycles. 
     
     
         15 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a solid glass electrolyte comprising:
 an alkali metal working ion that is conducted by the electrolyte; and 
 a dipole; 
   an anode; and   a cathode,   
       wherein one or both of the cathode and anode substantially lack the working ion prior to initially charging or discharging the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein both the cathode and the anode substantially lack the working ion prior to the initial charge or discharge of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the working ion is lithium ion (Li + ), sodium ion (Na + ), or potassium ion (K + ), or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the dipole has the general formula A y X z  or the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , wherein A is Li, Na, K, Mg, and/or Al, X is S and/or O, 0<z≤3, y is sufficient to ensure charge neutrality of dipoles of the general formula A y X z , or a charge of −q of dipoles of the general formula A y-1 X z   −q , and 1≤q≤3. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the solid glass electrolyte comprises at least 50 wt % of dipole. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrochemical cell has a charge/discharge coulomb efficiency of greater than 100%. 
     
     
         21 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrochemical cell exhibits an alternating current having a period of at least one minute. 
     
     
         22 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrochemical cell exhibits an alternating current having a period of at least one day.